Raspberry plant variety named ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’, particularly selected for its fruit size and flavor, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus L.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof raspberry plant is ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Raspberries are the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in thegenus Rubus of the rose family. Most raspberry species are in thesubgenus Idaeobatus. Raspberry plants are perennial plants with woodystems. Many of the most important modern commercial red raspberrycultivars derive from hybrids between R. idaeus and R. strigosus. Recentbreeding has resulted in cultivars that are thornless and more stronglyupright, not needing staking.

Both the red and the black raspberry species have albino-likepale-yellow natural or horticultural variants. Fruits from such plantsare called golden raspberries or yellow raspberries. Most pale-fruitedraspberries commercially sold in the eastern United States arederivatives of red raspberries. Yellow-fruited variants of the blackraspberry are sometimes grown in home gardens. Despite their dissimilarappearance, golden raspberries retain the distinctive flavor of theirrespective red or black species.

An individual raspberry fruit is made up of around 100 drupelets, eachof which contains a juicy pulp and a single central seed. A raspberrybush can yield several hundred berries a year. Unlike blackberries anddewberries, a raspberry has a hollow core once it is removed from thereceptacle.

Raspberries are traditionally planted in the winter as dormant canes,but planting plugs produced by tissue culture is also common.Additionally, the long cane production method consists of growing canesfor one year in cold climates where the bud break is early, and thentransplanting the canes to warm climates where they quickly flower andcan produce an early season crop. A very vigorous crop, raspberriesspread well and can be considered invasive, using extended undergroundshoots (also known as suckers or basal shoots) that can develop rootsand individual plants.

Raspberries are a popular fruit that are recognized for theirantioxidants, high fiber, and as a good source of vitamin C. Raspberryfruit is typically consumed as fresh fruit, individually quick frozen(IQF) fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées, juices, jellies,jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Raspberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop, widelygrown in all temperate regions of the world. Accordingly, there is aneed for new varieties of raspberry plant. In particular, there is aneed for improved varieties of raspberry plant that are stable, highyielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of raspberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of raspberry plant (Rubus idaeusL.), which has been denominated as ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.

Raspberry plant variety ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ was discovered in Santa CruzCounty, Calif. in October of 2016 and originated from a cross betweenthe female parent ‘DrisRaspTwelve’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,577) and theproprietary male parent ‘RC448.4’ (unpatented). The original seedling ofthe new variety was first asexually propagated in Santa Cruz County,Calif. via root cuttings in October 2016.

‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and has undergone testing in Santa Cruz County, Calif. forfour years (2016 to 2020). The present variety has been found to bestable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations via root cuttings and tissue culture.

‘DrisRaspIwentyOne’ was particularly selected for its fruit size andflavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new raspberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs.The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants thatare one year old.

FIG. 1 illustrates sections of primocanes of raspberry variety‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.

FIG. 2 illustrates the upper surface (left leaf) and the lower surface(right leaf) of leaves of raspberry variety ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowers and fruit of raspberry variety‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ at various stages of development.

FIG. 4 illustrates a section of a plant with primocanes of raspberryvariety ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’. Unless where otherwise noted, the data that definethese characteristics are based on observations taken from‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ plants that were one year old, grown in Santa CruzCounty, Calif. from 2016 to 2020. These descriptions are in accordancewith UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The indicatedvalues represent averages calculated from measurements of severalplants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S,) (2015 edition),Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, AnIllustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and MelindaWoolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus idaeus L.        -   Common name.—Raspberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisRaspTwelve’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            30,577).        -   Male parent.—‘RC448.4’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—186.20 cm.        -   Width.—153.2 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.2.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Primocane (current year's cane).—Color: RHS 135D (Light            yellowish green). Cane length in autumn: 191 cm. Internodal            distance at central ⅓ of cane: 5.69 cm. Anthocyanin            coloration of cane: Absent or very weak. Cane bloom: Absent            or very weak. Time of cane emergence: Medium.        -   Very young shoot.—Anthocyanin coloration of apex during            rapid growth: Absent.        -   Floricane (previous year's cane).—Dormant cane color: RHS            199B (Light olive brown). Fruiting lateral attitude:            Semi-erect. Fruiting lateral length: Medium.        -   Prickles (spines).—Presence: Present. Density: Sparse.            Length at 1 m height at end of harvest (from base to tip):            0.90 mm. Color: RHS 187A (Dark red).-   Leaves:    -   -   Predominant number of leaflets.—Three.        -   Profile of leaflets in cross section.—Straight.        -   Leaf rugosity.—Weak.        -   Color of upper side.—RHS 136A (Dark green).        -   Color of lower side.—RHS 136C (Moderate yellowish green).        -   Surface texture of upper side.—Smooth.        -   Surface texture of lower side.—Smooth.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 101.9 mm. Width: 74.4 mm.            Length/width ratio: 1.4. Margin: Serrate. Overall shape:            Ovate. Apex shape: Cuspidate. Base shape: Cordate.        -   Lateral leaflets.—Length: 93.0 mm. Width: 55.3 mm.            Length/width ratio: 1.7. Relative position of lateral            leaflets: Free. Margin: Serrate. Overall shape: Ovate. Apex            shape: Cuspidate. Base shape: Cordate.        -   Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets.—26.9 mm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 57.8 mm. Diameter: 2.72 mm. Color: RHS 136C            (Moderate yellowish green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Diameter.—30.23 mm.        -   Petal.—Length: 8.70 mm. Width: 4.07 mm. Length/width ratio:            2.1. Color of upper side: NN155C (White). Color of lower            side: NN155C (White).        -   Sepal.—Length: 8.49 mm. Width: 4.36 mm. Shape: Deltoid.            Color: RHS 135D (Light yellowish green).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 49.20 mm. Diameter: 1.34 mm. Color: RHS            136C (Moderate yellowish green). Surface texture:            Semi-prickly.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 136C (Moderate yellowish green).            Anthocyanin coloration: Absent. Surface texture: Smooth with            sparse prickles.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length.—32.50 mm.        -   Diameter.—23.50 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.4.        -   General shape in lateral view.—Trapezoidal.        -   Color.—RHS 42B (Strong reddish orange).        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Firmness.—Firm.        -   Adherence to plug.—Weak.        -   Size of single drupe.—Large.        -   Number of drupelets per berry.—80-100.        -   Average weight per berry.—6.4 g.        -   Soluble solids (° Brix).—10.8.-   Seed:    -   -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Lens.        -   Color.—RHS 165B (Brownish orange).-   Production:    -   -   Main bearing type.—Both on floricane (previous year's cane)            in summer and on primocane (current year's cane) in autumn.        -   Primocane (current year's cane).—Time of beginning of            flowering: Mid-May. Time of beginning of fruit ripening:            Mid-June. Length of fruiting period: Mid-June to early            November. Yield: 19,122 kg to 26,579 kg of fruit per hectare            per season from 7-month-old plants when grown in            Watsonville, Calif.        -   Floricane (previous year's cane).—Time of vegetative bud            burst: Late March. Time of beginning of flowering:            Mid-April. Time of beginning of fruit ripening: Mid-May.            Length of fruiting period: Mid-May to late July. Yield:            31,093 kg to 48,092 kg of fruit per hectare per season from            12-month-old plants when grown in Watsonville, Calif.-   Fruit storage life and shipping quality: Following harvest, fruit    can be stored for 10 days if maintained under cooled temperatures    that are standard for raspberry storage.-   Market use: Fresh fruit.-   Hardiness zone (heat/cold tolerance): Zones 4-8, preferring cool    climates.-   Resistance to diseases:    -   -   Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis).—Susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND REFERENCE RASPBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ differs from the female parent ‘DrisRaspTwelve’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,577) in that ‘DrisRaspIwentyOne’ has an improvedshelf life and bigger fruit size when compared to ‘DrisRaspTwelve’.Further, for ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ the leaves have predominantly threeleaflets, the profile of leaflets in cross section is straight, and thefruit glossiness is medium, whereas for ‘DrisRaspTwelve’ the leaves haveequally three and five leaflets, the profile of leaflets in crosssection is concave, and the fruit glossiness is strong.

‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘RC448.4’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ has an improved shelf life whencompared to ‘RC448.4’.

‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ differs from reference raspberry variety ‘DriscollMaravilla’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,804) in that for ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’the leaves have predominantly three leaflets, the relative position ofthe lateral leaflets is free, the fruit's adherence to the plug is weak,and the fruit shape in lateral view is trapezoidal, whereas for‘Driscoll Maravilla’ the leaves have predominantly five leaflets, therelative position of the lateral leaflets is overlapping, the fruit'sadherence to the plug is medium, and the fruit shape in lateral view isbroad conical (ovate).

‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ differs from reference raspberry variety‘DrisRaspSeven’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,045) in that for‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ the bloom on current season's cane is absent or veryweak, the predominant number of leaflets on leaves is three, the leafrugosity is weak, and the fruit firmness is firm, whereas for‘DrisRaspSeven’ the bloom on current season's cane is medium, thepredominant number of leaflets on leaves is five, the leaf rugosity ismedium, and the fruit firmness is medium.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plantdesignated ‘DrisRaspTwentyOne’ as shown and described herein.